In the Reeds (With a Reed Warbler) - Eleanor Brimblecombe

This piece for 4 tom toms and audio recording was written for and workshopped by the performer, Jack Peggie. Thank you, Jack!
In the Reeds (With a Reed Warbler) (2024) was a direct result of me recording an Australian Reed Warbler near Murrumbidgee River in September 2023. The energy of the bird, combined with my exhaustion from 3 weeks of solo camping and fieldwork, created a unique dissonance in my head. I chose to leave the recording as it was and add the percussion as a sort of interesting duet between two species. While initially in unison, the piece becomes a push and pull of who has the "melody" vs the "accompaniment", followed by some sections of equality and counterpoint between the parts. This reflects my own desire to leave vs the thrill of recording such a vibrant bird call. Ultimately, the bird flies away, and the drummer is left to end the unlikely music.
This was written as part of my DMA at the USYD Conservatorium of Music, and was workshopped and performed during the Inaugural USYD Con and SSO Fellowship Composition Winterschool in July, 2024.